After beating the Dallas Cowboys and almost upsetting the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 NFL playoffs, the Green Bay Packers proved they should be in contention for a Super Bowl come next season.
Rising quarterback Jordan Love showed he could rise up to the occasion in postseason football, while the team made sure to give him pass-catching weapons in Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed.
As for the running game, Green Bay decided to release former Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones, who ended up signing a one-year deal with their rivals, the Minnesota Vikings.
To replace Jones, the Packers went out and signed Josh Jacobs in free agency to a four-year, $48 million deal.
However, aside from Jacobs the team also selected USC running back MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Lloyd is a talented back who the team believes has shades of Aaron Jones, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN (via Derek Brown).
“Not only with his rushing ability but his ability to catch passes out of the backfield,” Fowler said of the comparison between Lloyd and Jones. “So, the expectation is they’re going to get him acclimated pretty early, try to use him a lot.”
Lloyd didn’t have many carries to his name in college, but does offer a similar skillset to Jones as a runner and pass catcher.
Although Jacobs is expected to be the lead back, the Packers have been known to use multiple players at the position meaning that Lloyd should see his fair share of opportunities his rookie year.
